sebenza

Fanagalo

Etymology

From Zulu -sebenza.

Verb

sebenza

1. to work

Northern Ndebele

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Verb

-sébénza

1. to work

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Southern Ndebele

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Verb

-sébénza

1. to work

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Xhosa

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [seɓeːⁿd̥za̤]

Verb

-sébénza

1. (intransitive) to work

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Derived terms

• -sebenzisa
• umsebenzi

Zulu

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /seɓéːnza/

Verb

-sebénza

1. (intransitive) to work
2. (intransitive) to function, to operate

Inflection

Tone H
Infinitive	ukusebenza
	Positive	Negative
Infinitive	ukusebenza	ukungasebenzi
	Imperative
	Simple	+ object concord
Singular	sebenza	-sebenze
Plural	sebenzani	-sebenzeni
	Present
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngiyasebenza, ngisebenza	engisebenzayo, engisebenza	ngisebenza	angisebenzi	engingasebenzi	ngingasebenzi
2nd singular	uyasebenza, usebenza	osebenzayo, osebenza	usebenza	awusebenzi	ongasebenzi	ungasebenzi
1st plural	siyasebenza, sisebenza	esisebenzayo, esisebenza	sisebenza	asisebenzi	esingasebenzi	singasebenzi
2nd plural	niyasebenza, nisebenza	enisebenzayo, enisebenza	nisebenza	anisebenzi	eningasebenzi	ningasebenzi
Class 1	uyasebenza, usebenza	osebenzayo, osebenza	esebenza	akasebenzi	ongasebenzi	engasebenzi
Class 2	bayasebenza, basebenza	abasebenzayo, abasebenza	besebenza	abasebenzi	abangasebenzi	bengasebenzi
Class 3	uyasebenza, usebenza	osebenzayo, osebenza	usebenza	awusebenzi	ongasebenzi	ungasebenzi
Class 4	iyasebenza, isebenza	esebenzayo, esebenza	isebenza	ayisebenzi	engasebenzi	ingasebenzi
Class 5	liyasebenza, lisebenza	elisebenzayo, elisebenza	lisebenza	alisebenzi	elingasebenzi	lingasebenzi
Class 6	ayasebenza, asebenza	asebenzayo, asebenza	esebenza	awasebenzi	angasebenzi	engasebenzi
Class 7	siyasebenza, sisebenza	esisebenzayo, esisebenza	sisebenza	asisebenzi	esingasebenzi	singasebenzi
Class 8	ziyasebenza, zisebenza	ezisebenzayo, ezisebenza	zisebenza	azisebenzi	ezingasebenzi	zingasebenzi
Class 9	iyasebenza, isebenza	esebenzayo, esebenza	isebenza	ayisebenzi	engasebenzi	ingasebenzi
Class 10	ziyasebenza, zisebenza	ezisebenzayo, ezisebenza	zisebenza	azisebenzi	ezingasebenzi	zingasebenzi
Class 11	luyasebenza, lusebenza	olusebenzayo, olusebenza	lusebenza	alusebenzi	olungasebenzi	lungasebenzi
Class 14	buyasebenza, busebenza	obusebenzayo, obusebenza	busebenza	abusebenzi	obungasebenzi	bungasebenzi
Class 15	kuyasebenza, kusebenza	okusebenzayo, okusebenza	kusebenza	akusebenzi	okungasebenzi	kungasebenzi
Class 17	kuyasebenza, kusebenza	okusebenzayo, okusebenza	kusebenza	akusebenzi	okungasebenzi	kungasebenzi
	Recent past
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngisebenzile, ngisebenzē	engisebenzile, engisebenzē	ngisebenzile, ngisebenzē	angisebenzanga	engingasebenzanga	ngingasebenzanga
2nd singular	usebenzile, usebenzē	osebenzile, osebenzē	usebenzile, usebenzē	awusebenzanga	ongasebenzanga	ungasebenzanga
1st plural	sisebenzile, sisebenzē	esisebenzile, esisebenzē	sisebenzile, sisebenzē	asisebenzanga	esingasebenzanga	singasebenzanga
2nd plural	nisebenzile, nisebenzē	enisebenzile, enisebenzē	nisebenzile, nisebenzē	anisebenzanga	eningasebenzanga	ningasebenzanga
Class 1	usebenzile, usebenzē	osebenzile, osebenzē	esebenzile, esebenzē	akasebenzanga	ongasebenzanga	engasebenzanga
Class 2	basebenzile, basebenzē	abasebenzile, abasebenzē	besebenzile, besebenzē	abasebenzanga	abangasebenzanga	bengasebenzanga
Class 3	usebenzile, usebenzē	osebenzile, osebenzē	usebenzile, usebenzē	awusebenzanga	ongasebenzanga	ungasebenzanga
Class 4	isebenzile, isebenzē	esebenzile, esebenzē	isebenzile, isebenzē	ayisebenzanga	engasebenzanga	ingasebenzanga
Class 5	lisebenzile, lisebenzē	elisebenzile, elisebenzē	lisebenzile, lisebenzē	alisebenzanga	elingasebenzanga	lingasebenzanga
Class 6	asebenzile, asebenzē	asebenzile, asebenzē	esebenzile, esebenzē	awasebenzanga	angasebenzanga	engasebenzanga
Class 7	sisebenzile, sisebenzē	esisebenzile, esisebenzē	sisebenzile, sisebenzē	asisebenzanga	esingasebenzanga	singasebenzanga
Class 8	zisebenzile, zisebenzē	ezisebenzile, ezisebenzē	zisebenzile, zisebenzē	azisebenzanga	ezingasebenzanga	zingasebenzanga
Class 9	isebenzile, isebenzē	esebenzile, esebenzē	isebenzile, isebenzē	ayisebenzanga	engasebenzanga	ingasebenzanga
Class 10	zisebenzile, zisebenzē	ezisebenzile, ezisebenzē	zisebenzile, zisebenzē	azisebenzanga	ezingasebenzanga	zingasebenzanga
Class 11	lusebenzile, lusebenzē	olusebenzile, olusebenzē	lusebenzile, lusebenzē	alusebenzanga	olungasebenzanga	lungasebenzanga
Class 14	busebenzile, busebenzē	obusebenzile, obusebenzē	busebenzile, busebenzē	abusebenzanga	obungasebenzanga	bungasebenzanga
Class 15	kusebenzile, kusebenzē	okusebenzile, okusebenzē	kusebenzile, kusebenzē	akusebenzanga	okungasebenzanga	kungasebenzanga
Class 17	kusebenzile, kusebenzē	okusebenzile, okusebenzē	kusebenzile, kusebenzē	akusebenzanga	okungasebenzanga	kungasebenzanga
	Remote past
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngāsebenza	engāsebenza	ngāsebenza	angisebenzanga	engingasebenzanga	ngingasebenzanga
2nd singular	wāsebenza	owāsebenza	wāsebenza	awusebenzanga	ongasebenzanga	ungasebenzanga
1st plural	sāsebenza	esāsebenza	sāsebenza	asisebenzanga	esingasebenzanga	singasebenzanga
2nd plural	nāsebenza	enāsebenza	nāsebenza	anisebenzanga	eningasebenzanga	ningasebenzanga
Class 1	wāsebenza	owāsebenza	āsebenza	akasebenzanga	ongasebenzanga	engasebenzanga
Class 2	bāsebenza	abāsebenza	bāsebenza	abasebenzanga	abangasebenzanga	bengasebenzanga
Class 3	wāsebenza	owāsebenza	wāsebenza	awusebenzanga	ongasebenzanga	ungasebenzanga
Class 4	yāsebenza	eyāsebenza	yāsebenza	ayisebenzanga	engasebenzanga	ingasebenzanga
Class 5	lāsebenza	elāsebenza	lāsebenza	alisebenzanga	elingasebenzanga	lingasebenzanga
Class 6	āsebenza	āsebenza	āsebenza	awasebenzanga	angasebenzanga	engasebenzanga
Class 7	sāsebenza	esāsebenza	sāsebenza	asisebenzanga	esingasebenzanga	singasebenzanga
Class 8	zāsebenza	ezāsebenza	zāsebenza	azisebenzanga	ezingasebenzanga	zingasebenzanga
Class 9	yāsebenza	eyāsebenza	yāsebenza	ayisebenzanga	engasebenzanga	ingasebenzanga
Class 10	zāsebenza	ezāsebenza	zāsebenza	azisebenzanga	ezingasebenzanga	zingasebenzanga
Class 11	lwāsebenza	olwāsebenza	lwāsebenza	alusebenzanga	olungasebenzanga	lungasebenzanga
Class 14	bāsebenza	obāsebenza	bāsebenza	abusebenzanga	obungasebenzanga	bungasebenzanga
Class 15	kwāsebenza	okwāsebenza	kwāsebenza	akusebenzanga	okungasebenzanga	kungasebenzanga
Class 17	kwāsebenza	okwāsebenza	kwāsebenza	akusebenzanga	okungasebenzanga	kungasebenzanga
	Potential
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngingasebenza	—	ngingasebenza	ngingesebenze	—	ngingesebenze
2nd singular	ungasebenza	—	ungasebenza	ungesebenze	—	ungesebenze
1st plural	singasebenza	—	singasebenza	singesebenze	—	singesebenze
2nd plural	ningasebenza	—	ningasebenza	ningesebenze	—	ningesebenze
Class 1	angasebenza	—	engasebenza	angesebenze	—	engesebenze
Class 2	bangasebenza	—	bengasebenza	bangesebenze	—	bengesebenze
Class 3	ungasebenza	—	ungasebenza	ungesebenze	—	ungesebenze
Class 4	ingasebenza	—	ingasebenza	ingesebenze	—	ingesebenze
Class 5	lingasebenza	—	lingasebenza	lingesebenze	—	lingesebenze
Class 6	angasebenza	—	engasebenza	angesebenze	—	engesebenze
Class 7	singasebenza	—	singasebenza	singesebenze	—	singesebenze
Class 8	zingasebenza	—	zingasebenza	zingesebenze	—	zingesebenze
Class 9	ingasebenza	—	ingasebenza	ingesebenze	—	ingesebenze
Class 10	zingasebenza	—	zingasebenza	zingesebenze	—	zingesebenze
Class 11	lungasebenza	—	lungasebenza	lungesebenze	—	lungesebenze
Class 14	bungasebenza	—	bungasebenza	bungesebenze	—	bungesebenze
Class 15	kungasebenza	—	kungasebenza	kungesebenze	—	kungesebenze
Class 17	kungasebenza	—	kungasebenza	kungesebenze	—	kungesebenze
	Immediate future
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngizosebenza	engizosebenza	ngizosebenza	angizusebenza	engingezusebenza	ngingezusebenza
2nd singular	uzosebenza	ozosebenza	uzosebenza	awuzusebenza	ongezusebenza	ungezusebenza
1st plural	sizosebenza	esizosebenza	sizosebenza	asizusebenza	esingezusebenza	singezusebenza
2nd plural	nizosebenza	enizosebenza	nizosebenza	anizusebenza	eningezusebenza	ningezusebenza
Class 1	uzosebenza	ozosebenza	ezosebenza	akazusebenza	ongezusebenza	engezusebenza
Class 2	bazosebenza	abazosebenza	bezosebenza	abazusebenza	abangezusebenza	bengezusebenza
Class 3	uzosebenza	ozosebenza	uzosebenza	awuzusebenza	ongezusebenza	ungezusebenza
Class 4	izosebenza	ezosebenza	izosebenza	ayizusebenza	engezusebenza	ingezusebenza
Class 5	lizosebenza	elizosebenza	lizosebenza	alizusebenza	elingezusebenza	lingezusebenza
Class 6	azosebenza	azosebenza	ezosebenza	awazusebenza	angezusebenza	engezusebenza
Class 7	sizosebenza	esizosebenza	sizosebenza	asizusebenza	esingezusebenza	singezusebenza
Class 8	zizosebenza	ezizosebenza	zizosebenza	azizusebenza	ezingezusebenza	zingezusebenza
Class 9	izosebenza	ezosebenza	izosebenza	ayizusebenza	engezusebenza	ingezusebenza
Class 10	zizosebenza	ezizosebenza	zizosebenza	azizusebenza	ezingezusebenza	zingezusebenza
Class 11	luzosebenza	oluzosebenza	luzosebenza	aluzusebenza	olungezusebenza	lungezusebenza
Class 14	buzosebenza	obuzosebenza	buzosebenza	abuzusebenza	obungezusebenza	bungezusebenza
Class 15	kuzosebenza	okuzosebenza	kuzosebenza	akuzusebenza	okungezusebenza	kungezusebenza
Class 17	kuzosebenza	okuzosebenza	kuzosebenza	akuzusebenza	okungezusebenza	kungezusebenza
	Remote future
	Positive absolute	Positive relative	Positive participial	Negative absolute	Negative relative	Negative participial
1st singular	ngiyosebenza	engiyosebenza	ngiyosebenza	angiyusebenza	engingeyusebenza	ngingeyusebenza
2nd singular	uyosebenza	oyosebenza	uyosebenza	awuyusebenza	ongeyusebenza	ungeyusebenza
1st plural	siyosebenza	esiyosebenza	siyosebenza	asiyusebenza	esingeyusebenza	singeyusebenza
2nd plural	niyosebenza	eniyosebenza	niyosebenza	aniyusebenza	eningeyusebenza	ningeyusebenza
Class 1	uyosebenza	oyosebenza	eyosebenza	akayusebenza	ongeyusebenza	engeyusebenza
Class 2	bayosebenza	abayosebenza	beyosebenza	abayusebenza	abangeyusebenza	bengeyusebenza
Class 3	uyosebenza	oyosebenza	uyosebenza	awuyusebenza	ongeyusebenza	ungeyusebenza
Class 4	iyosebenza	eyosebenza	iyosebenza	ayiyusebenza	engeyusebenza	ingeyusebenza
Class 5	liyosebenza	eliyosebenza	liyosebenza	aliyusebenza	elingeyusebenza	lingeyusebenza
Class 6	ayosebenza	ayosebenza	eyosebenza	awayusebenza	angeyusebenza	engeyusebenza
Class 7	siyosebenza	esiyosebenza	siyosebenza	asiyusebenza	esingeyusebenza	singeyusebenza
Class 8	ziyosebenza	eziyosebenza	ziyosebenza	aziyusebenza	ezingeyusebenza	zingeyusebenza
Class 9	iyosebenza	eyosebenza	iyosebenza	ayiyusebenza	engeyusebenza	ingeyusebenza
Class 10	ziyosebenza	eziyosebenza	ziyosebenza	aziyusebenza	ezingeyusebenza	zingeyusebenza
Class 11	luyosebenza	oluyosebenza	luyosebenza	aluyusebenza	olungeyusebenza	lungeyusebenza
Class 14	buyosebenza	obuyosebenza	buyosebenza	abuyusebenza	obungeyusebenza	bungeyusebenza
Class 15	kuyosebenza	okuyosebenza	kuyosebenza	akuyusebenza	okungeyusebenza	kungeyusebenza
Class 17	kuyosebenza	okuyosebenza	kuyosebenza	akuyusebenza	okungeyusebenza	kungeyusebenza
	Present subjunctive
	Positive	Negative
1st singular	ngisebenze	ngingasebenzi
2nd singular	usebenze	ungasebenzi
1st plural	sisebenze	singasebenzi
2nd plural	nisebenze	ningasebenzi
Class 1	asebenze	angasebenzi
Class 2	basebenze	bangasebenzi
Class 3	usebenze	ungasebenzi
Class 4	isebenze	ingasebenzi
Class 5	lisebenze	lingasebenzi
Class 6	asebenze	angasebenzi
Class 7	sisebenze	singasebenzi
Class 8	zisebenze	zingasebenzi
Class 9	isebenze	ingasebenzi
Class 10	zisebenze	zingasebenzi
Class 11	lusebenze	lungasebenzi
Class 14	busebenze	bungasebenzi
Class 15	kusebenze	kungasebenzi
Class 17	kusebenze	kungasebenzi
	Past subjunctive
	Positive	Negative
1st singular	ngasebenza	ngangasebenza, angasebenza, angangasebenza
2nd singular	wasebenza	wangasebenza, awasebenza, awangasebenza
1st plural	sasebenza	sangasebenza, asasebenza, asangasebenza
2nd plural	nasebenza	nangasebenza, anasebenza, anangasebenza
Class 1	wasebenza	wangasebenza, akasebenza, akangasebenza
Class 2	basebenza	bangasebenza, abasebenza, abangasebenza
Class 3	wasebenza	wangasebenza, awasebenza, awangasebenza
Class 4	yasebenza	yangasebenza, ayasebenza, ayangasebenza
Class 5	lasebenza	langasebenza, alasebenza, alangasebenza
Class 6	asebenza	angasebenza, awasebenza, awangasebenza
Class 7	sasebenza	sangasebenza, asasebenza, asangasebenza
Class 8	zasebenza	zangasebenza, azasebenza, azangasebenza
Class 9	yasebenza	yangasebenza, ayasebenza, ayangasebenza
Class 10	zasebenza	zangasebenza, azasebenza, azangasebenza
Class 11	lwasebenza	lwangasebenza, alwasebenza, alwangasebenza
Class 14	basebenza	bangasebenza, abasebenza, abangasebenza
Class 15	kwasebenza	kwangasebenza, akwasebenza, akwangasebenza
Class 17	kwasebenza	kwangasebenza, akwasebenza, akwangasebenza

Derived terms

• -sebenzisa
• isisebenzi
• umsebenzi

References

• C. M. Doke, B. W. Vilakazi (1972) “seɓenza”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “seɓenza (3.2.9)”